Multidimensional programming of Educational Programmes
Zdeněk Vaněk, Karel Votroubek, DCIT, a.s. division PROVYS, Prague
The aim of this message is to inform about one of the possible methods of optimising broadcast times of educational programmes at given programme series. The method is based on real growth in the number of available distribution channels as a consequence of the digitalisation being implemented, where in single-dimensional programming collisions between programmes intended for the same type of viewer easily occur, with the two programmes broadcasted simultaneously on two channels. If we want to reduce the number of these programme collisions and thus increase the effectiveness of costs incurred in acquiring and broadcasting non-commercial programmes, then we must introduce into the broadcast times planning process criteria which will enable us to measure and hence also minimise these collisions. In practice it means that instead of normal monitoring of the number of viewers in target groups representing viewers from the entire territorial universum, we must divide the viewer universum into a multidimensional space according to distribution channel and viewer type, and thus obtain information about the probability of time collision occurrence.
The universal principle of resolving collisions is based on the techniques where one programme is ascribed a higher priority than other programmes. Different approaches can be used to determine priorities, e.g. requirements arising from a media policy. The method described here deploys an approach based on socioeconomic benefits gained by the viewers in their professional and personal life, since for that is today in Europe available objective statistical data, collected via EUROSTAT, mainly a group of indicators for assessing socioeconomic effects from the activities of life-long education.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SOLUTION
Practical solution comprises 7 steps:
a)
Each programme series in its description contains classification of the
type of viewers for whom it is intended. The method uses a
two-dimensional classification of viewer types, where the first
dimension is defined by the sphere of interest (31 codes of an
international list of values of spheres, NACE), and the second
dimension is the viewer’s age (5 age categories). Since most programmes
are intended for more types of viewers, the classification of every
series is done by means of a 2-dimensional table, where the internal
programming scheduler estimates in each field of the table the
percentage share of the given type of viewers. An example is given in
the schematic diagram presented below.
b) To each distribution channel with the sphere of action in
the selected universum is from the past viewing statistics assigned an
average number of viewers. The channel database is 3-dimensional, where
the first two dimensions are identical with the programme series
description (sphere and viewer’s age) and the third one is generated by
the broadcasting time (prime time, etc.). Data in the channel database
is periodically software-updated, based on the description of
broadcasted programmes and measured number of viewers (rating) in
different age groups.
c) Monitoring the number of viewers of each channel is done by using standard methods (people-meters, GfK, etc.).
d)
Socioeconomic data is received periodically from EUROSTAT and saved in
a knowledge database as input for a decision-making algorithm to
determine priorities.
e) Inserted into the programming process
is the so called intermediate collision step, in which a software
module estimates the probability of time collisions, and if necessary
recommends programme time shifts to minimise the probability of time
collisions.
f) The programme scheduler assesses the result of the intermediate collision step and compiles a final broadcasting schedule.
g)
Research Department makes periodic reviews of the achieved results, and
based on the identified values adjusts the parameters of the SW
module’s decision-making rules.
The entire system is illustrated in the schematic diagram below:
CONCLUSION:
The proposed solution is based on the needs to change the programming processes, specially in public sector and non-commercial television stations, which are dictated by the transition to digital distribution channels. The increased number of distribution channels increases the probability of time collisions of programmes intended for the same type of viewer, and thus reduces their rating. A logical consequence of time collisions is reduced effectiveness of utilising available educational assets. In the area of effectiveness, the described method introduces into the decision-making mechanism about programme priorities in a daily schedule socioeconomic data from EUROSTAT, which mainly focuses on the so called vulnerable groups in the society (youth, disabled, unemployed, people with incomplete education, minorities). Introducing these aspects into the decision-making mechanism of a television station approaches the measurements of effectiveness to the perception by the population of the benefits of non-commercial broadcasting.
The second fundamental change is a decomposition of the 1-dimensional viewer universum into a 3-dimensional viewer universum, which enables subjectivity to be eliminated from the process of assessing potential time collisions.
The third change this method brings is broadening the programme description by a 2-dimensional matrix of target types of viewers. The right thing to do, when describing educational programmes would be to work also with the programme aging factor, expressed as the so called half-life of the information value, but this is more important when planning the creation of new programmes, and hence this dimension has not used in the described method.
This description neither concretises the data model nor describes the concrete software solution, because the described model has so far not been implemented by DCIT, a.s. in practice as part of PROVYS in any TV station. This fact is related to the issues of obtaining data from EUROSTAT, as the indicators used are at present being fine-tuned and gradually introduced into national statistical systems.
An advantage of the described method is that it is not restricted to educational programmes only, and to digital terrestrial and satellite channels, but that it is compatible also with other channel types (Internet, UTM, etc.)
Literature:
Standardy a podklady EU v oblasti VET – CQAF (Vocational Education and Training - Common Quality Assurance Framework)
System description of PROVYS TVoffice (www.provys.com)